A/N : Here its is Chapter 8. Starts with an excerpt from the end of Chapter 7. Italicized part is from the earlier chapter. Enjoy!

Usual disclaimers apply. I don't own anything. I am only borrowing the characters and having some fun with them.

"I know, I know….she isn't going to leave. It's just that she has been through enough today. I would just feel so much better if she was home – safely ensconced in her own bed."
" She is a tough cookie Rick." He could hear the tenderness in Kate's voice. "I promise you I will make sure she is doing okay. And as soon as they are done with your tests and have you stitched up, they will both be here with you. So don't worry okay?" Once again he nodded tiredly.

Kate smiled and planting a quick kiss on his forehead started to walk out. She had just made it to the door when she heard him say softly, "Thank you Kate."
Kate was afraid if she turned and looked at him she would probably start bawling like a baby. So she swallowed past the lump in her throat and just nodded. Then turning the knob she walked out of the room.

-x -x-

When Kate walked back into the waiting room, Alexis launched herself out of her grandmother's arms.

"How is he?"

"He's doing fine Alexis. They just took him to do the x-rays and scans. The doctor said he didn't expect to see anything major on the scans. Once that is done they are going to stitch up the lacerations on his leg. They do want him to stay here for the rest of the day today to make sure he doesn't have a concussion. As you can imagine, he is not too happy about it."

For the first time that day Kate saw a smile break out on Alexis' young face. "I can imagine"

She looked at Lanie and the boys and said, "It's been a long day guys, why don't you head home?"

"Without seeing writer boy? Not a chance!" Lanie smiled and said, "Call us when he gets back in his room."

Kate shook her head and smiled. "Come on let' go see if your Dad is back." She slung an arm around Alexis' shoulders and gave the girl a sideways hug. Together she, Martha and Alexis walked towards Castle's room. Once inside, Alexis made a beeline for the reclining arm chair and curled into it. Martha settled into a chair to her left. Kate chose the swiveling stool on the other side of the bed. She folded her arms on the bed and rested her chin in it. Alexis was asleep in minutes. Martha grabbed one of the blankets sitting on the table by the bed and wrapped it around Alexis. Watching them, Kate suddenly felt like an outsider…..and worse – a fraud. After having no contact with them for two weeks, here she was – acting like she was a part of their family. And they were letting her – no questions asked.

"Thank you Detective Beckett. …..for everything you did today." Martha's words snapped Kate out of her thoughts. Martha was standing by her side and Kate could see sheen in the woman's eyes. Kate felt even worse now. Martha was not only letting Kate be here, she was even thanking her! The woman really was a class act.

Kate quickly spoke up before she lost her nerve. "Martha please…you don't have to thank me. You know what he means ….." Kate looked down and swallowed the lump in her throat. She found it hard to continue. How does one tell the mother of the person you hurt badly, how much that person really means to you? Kate decided she was just going to jump into it.

She looked straight into Martha's eyes and continued, "Or maybe you don't. I haven't exactly been very forthcoming about my feelings in the past I am so sorry about that. He deserves better. I also know I hurt him badly when I asked him to leave me alone. And believe me; I WILL make it up to him. But if there is one thing I have learnt in the last 16 days, 10 hrs and …" she looked down at her watch and continued, "24 minutes – it's that life without Richard Castle in it is not something I want to consider anymore." Kate smiled as she said this.

An answering smile broke out on Martha's face. She threw her arms up in a dramatic gesture and said, "Halleluiah! What took you so long?"

Kate smiled and wiped her eyes. "Just block-headed I guess."

Martha was about to respond when the door opened and Rick was wheeled in. Alexis was woken by the noise and upon seeing Rick immediately began bombarding her him with questions about his health.

"I am fine sweetheart. Just a few cuts and bruises. Nothing serious. Right Doctor?" He looked pointedly at the doctor when he said this.

The doctor responded with a somewhat pained but resigned expression, "Yes Miss Castle. Your father is doing well…. considering what he has been through." He paused and after giving a sideways glance at his patient then continued quickly, "But he needs to take it easy for the next few days. He has broken ribs, and multiple contusions. He also needs to be watched for a possible concussion. And last but not least – there is the laceration on his shin. It was pretty deep and took 43 stitches. He needs to keep his weight off that leg for the next 2 weeks. Even after that he will need to do physical therapy before he can have full and normal use of his leg. "

Rick was openly glaring at the doctor by now. He had specifically told the doctor NOT to give them the whole rundown. He was only slightly appeased by what the doctor had to say next.

"As much as I would like to keep him overnight Mr Castle insists on going home. I am willing to discharge him today as long as someone can keep an eye on him for the next 24-36 hrs. He needs to be woken every 4-6 hours. If he doesn't wake up immediately or is confused or disoriented, he needs to be seen by a doctor. His leg wound needs to remain clean and dry for the next 48 hours. He will need to have the stitches taken out on day 5. I will have detailed instructions on wound care on the discharge papers. Other than that he is good to go. Any questions?"

The doctor looked like he couldn't wait to get out of there. Not that Kate could blame him. Considering the daggers Rick was currently shooting at the man it was a miracle he was still standing.

"Thank you Doctor I will make sure he adheres to all the instructions in the discharge packet." Martha smiled at the young doctor warmly. He nodded and said tiredly, " I will have the nurse complete the discharge packet in a few minutes. After that you are good to go." With a last muttered "Good luck" he was gone leaving Rick alone with three women who were looking at him with matching annoyed expressions on their faces.

"What?" he asked belligerently.

He was met with a chorus of "Daaad","Castle", "Richard"

"Look I don't care what anyone has to say, I want to get out of this damned hospital and this damned city for that matter. I just need to make one stop on the way." He ran a hand through his hair distractedly and then winced when it made contact with the gigantic goose egg that had made its home on his temple.

"A stop on the way? Richard! Are you crazy? Its 5 a.m my dear. Who pray tell are you planning on visiting at this hour?"

"It's in the hospital mother! I wasn't planning on driving anywhere."

"In the hospital? But who…" she trailed of looking at Kate. Kate shrugged he shoulders. She had no idea what he was talking about either.

"Beckett, can you check and see what room Katherine is in? I don't know her last name but she was one of the hostages. Jordan said she was in the hospital. Shouldn't be too hard to find her – she's the pregnant one. She looked like she was ready to deliver any minute."

Kate nodded mutely and left the room. Who was this Katherine? Rick had even asked about her when they were getting ready to leave for the hospital. She quickly called Esposito and asked him to find out about this woman Rick seemed to be so concerned about. Once she had all the necessary information she walked back into the room and said without preamble, "Room 403 – maternity floor. She had her baby soon after they brought her in. Both mom and baby are doing fine."

"Oh thank god!" Rick closed his eyes and rested his head back against the pillows. Martha glanced sideways at Kate and raised her eyebrows. Kate once again shrugged her shoulders as if to say, I don't know what's going on either.

Rick opened his eyes and said resolutely, "Mother, Alexis …could you go find me something to wear out of this darned place. I don't care if it's a pair of scrubs. Just so long as it covers my backside I will be happy."

"Dad! Why don't you just stay here today? Gram and I will stay here with you. Detective Beckett too."

"Alexis…" , he began tiredly. Just then Martha interjected. "Alexis, let's go find him something to wear. " When the teen opened her mouth to argue, Martha shook her head and put and arm around her shoulders, steering her out of the room. That left Kate alone with Rick once again.

She walked over to his bed and squeezed his hand. After tying to keep a distance from him all these years, she suddenly couldn't seem to want to stop touching him! Kate knew him well enough to know there was a reason he had sent Martha and Alexis out of the room. He wanted to talk to her about something. Just as she opened her mouth to ask him, he spoke.

"There was someone else in that room with me before the explosives went off. He was one of the terrorists but was tied up in the same room as me. Can you find out his whereabouts from Agent Shaw or whoever? I want to know where he is and if he is alive."

"Rick.."

"Just do it Beckett. Don't ask me any questions now. I will tell you everything later. Just find out where he is." He was quiet for a second before continuing, "Also what happened to the others? The other terrorists I mean ….and the diplomat?"

"Honestly Rick? I don't know. Once I set foot inside that building, my only focus was finding you. One of them could have walked right past me and I wouldn't have known. And I haven't talked to Jordan since then so I have no idea what may or may not have happened." Kate realized this was the most honest she had been about how she really felt where Rick was concerned.

Just then Alexis and Martha walked in with the requested items in their arms. They had managed to find a pair of scrubs as well as a hoodie from the hospital gift shop. They had also managed to find a pair of socks and shoes in his size.

After an awkward moment of everyone wondering about who would help Rick into said items, Kate once again found herself alone with Rick. Martha had herded Alexis out saying something about getting the discharge process going. Kate hadn't missed the quick little wink and smile she had given her on the way out. Once the two had left the room Kate turned around to face the man in the bed and the prospect of getting him dressed.

Rick pretended like he was examining the clothes his mother and brought him but was watching Kate out of the corner of his eye. She was fiddling with her hair and chewing on her lower lip. Classic nervous - Beckett signs. He would have smiled except for the fact that he was not looking forward to the prospect of getting into these clothes with Kate's help. He'd had numerous fantasies about her getting him OUT of his clothes. He didn't look forward to her getting him INTO them while he was laid out in a hospital bed. He put on a game face and sighing said, "Let's make this easy on ourselves okay? Just help me get the pants up to my knees. I will do the rest."

Kate didn't argue. Instead she took the pants out of his hands and did as he asked – sliding them all the way up to his knees. She then turned around to give him privacy while he pulled them the rest of the way up. Seconds later she heard his hiss of pain. She turned around and was back by his bedside in an instant. He was lying back against the pillows, his face screwed up in pain. "Rick, you have broken ribs and god knows what else. Forget modesty for a minute and just let me help okay?"

He nodded without arguing. Just the fact that he did so told Kate how much pain he was currently in. "Okay so lift up as much as you can and I will pull them up the rest of the way okay?" Again eyes closed, just a nod. "Okay when I say lift, you lift." Kate bent over him and took a hold of the pants. "LIFT"

As soon as he lifted his lower body off the bed she yanked the pants up to his waist. But even that movement seemed to have caused him pain. His mouth was a tight line and there was sweat forming on his forehead.

"Rick" Kate said tenderly. He slowly opened his eyes and managed a small smile, "Did you peek?"

Kate smiled and shook her head. "No I saved that for later", she replied softly. She hoped he got her meaning. Judging by the eyebrows going up, she thought he did.

"Come on tiger let's get your shirt on." She asked him to sit up a little so she could get to the ties behind his back. Once he did as she indicated, she eased the gown off his upper body. She sucked in an involuntary breath when she saw the taped up ribs and the black and blue bruises that were starting to form around them. She knew from experience, those would hurt worse in a day or two than they did right now.

She quickly eased the scrubs top over his head. Though she knew it probably hurt like hell, he managed to get both arms through the sleeves. She repeated the process with the hoodie and then walked to the end of the bed to put on his socks. Despite having dressed and undressed lovers numerous times over the years, the act of putting on Rick Castle's socks made Kate blush. It somehow struck her as a very intimate act. She managed to get them on without passing out and walked back to the head of the bed.

"Help me sit up."

"Okay" Kate put her arms under his while he sat up. Between the two of them they managed to get him upright. Next, came the task of getting him into the wheelchair. Kate took hold of his legs and gently eased them over the side of the bed. Suddenly she found herself standing between Rick's legs. Her hands were resting on his thighs and she was nose to nose with his handsome face….and she didn't want to move - ever.

"Kate?" Rick asked huskily.

She looked into his eyes and felt an overwhelming urge to hug him. She slowly eased her hands off his thighs. Rick immediately felt the loss. He had been savoring the feel of her hands on his thighs. He didn't know what had made Kate go all touchy-feely. He was sure it had to do with his adventure today, but it was still very un-Beckett. But he wasn't complaining. Just as he thought she would move away from him she managed to surprise him yet again.

The hands that had been resting on his thighs were now resting on his shoulders. She moved forward and rested her forehead against his. He saw her swallow and then speak in a voice thick with emotion, "I am so glad you are okay Rick. There were so many times today when I thought I'd lost you. It was the worst feeling ever. The last time I felt this way was when I lost my mother. What made it worse this time was the fact that the last words I'd said to you were for you to get out of my life. That almost happened today Rick. I don't ever want to feel like that again. " She sniffed and then closing her eyes gently touched his lips with hers. It was a very chaste kiss considering his split lip. But Rick felt every ounce of desperation in it.

"Kate, you're killing me here." He brought his hands to rest on her waist. There was so much he wanted to do and say to her. But now was not the time. Kate smiled and took a step back from him.

"Your chariot awaits." She indicated the wheelchair by the bed. Rick sighed and bracing himself for some serious pain eased off the bed and into the wheelchair with Kate's help.